Warning. BUSINESS OWNERS. Scam alert.
Anyone in business may have noticed emails from people with suspect requests for goods or services offering to prepay and possibly for too much, this latest one was for an ebay item I have listed for $1550, They asked to buy it and have an agent collect. They offered to pay $1700 inc paypal charges for this.
But instead they sent a bogus paypal payment receipt for $2500 inc. $700 that I was to PREPAY to WESTERN UNION.
I knew it was a scam but never knew what their game was exactly as I have had several of these in the last few years. so I decided to play along. they asked for my paypal email address which is what a payee needs to pay someone. I thought if they pay and It is collected with signatures what's the problem? So I proceeded.
Minutes after I did it my instincts told me to race home and check my bank accounts linked to paypal. They were safe, but their game had already started.
- emails from them asking me to pay $700 upfront as a wire transfer to Western Union, I emailed back and said get stuffed. They originally said they would collect the item, no mention of me sending anything anywhere.
Then they also tried to hack my Paypal, which I knew they would to get at my bank accounts. I received notifications of someone requesting to change my password on paypal... As I suspected.
I quickly changed my email address on paypal, changed password., Then removed the one bank account from Paypal that has the bulk of funds in it and now have one limited to just $300.
I never liked Paypal but it did stop them. Please share with anyone in business, if it seems suspect and / or too good a deal don't go ahead, ultimately the scammers want to clean out your bank account. Please share.
